Step 1: Running the Numbers on the Offer
Jordan’s 3% raise offer — the full picture
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current salary | $60,000 |
| Raise offered | 3% ($1,800) |
| New annual salary | $61,800 |
| Inflation rate (2025 est.) | 3.1% |
| Real wage change | -0.1% (effectively flat) |
| Annual after-tax gain (est.) | ~$1,300 |
| Per biweekly paycheck (net) | ~$50 |
After inflation, Jordan’s purchasing power is unchanged. This raise does not reward the $450,000 pipeline contribution — it just keeps salary current with prices. That is the opening argument for a counter.
Step 2: Researching the Market Rate
Jordan checks LinkedIn Salary, Glassdoor, and BLS data for marketing coordinators in their metro. The data shows median salary for this role and experience level is $64,000-$68,000. Jordan’s current $60,000 is 6-13% below median. The offered raise to $61,800 still leaves Jordan significantly below market.
Step 3: Preparing the Counteroffer
- Market data: median for role is $64,000-$68,000 — current pay is 6-13% below median
- Contribution: led campaign generating $450,000 in pipeline at approximately 3x industry benchmark
- Specific ask: $65,000 (8.3% raise) — mid-range of market, well below replacement cost
- Opening: 'I appreciate the 3% offer — I want to discuss bringing my salary to market rate given my performance'
- Fallback: $63,500 if $65,000 is rejected — still meaningful at 5.8%
Jordan’s Four Scenarios Compared
Jordan’s four salary scenarios and their 5-year compounding impact
| Scenario | New Salary | Annual Gain Over Offer | 5-Year Total (3%/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accept 3% offer | $61,800 | — | $67,600 |
| Negotiate to $63,500 (5.8%) | $63,500 | +$1,700/yr | $73,500 |
| Negotiate to $65,000 (8.3%) | $65,000 | +$3,200/yr | $75,300 |
| Accept competing offer at $68,000 | $68,000 | +$6,200/yr | $78,800 |
The difference between accepting $61,800 and negotiating to $65,000 is $3,200/year today. Over 10 years at 3% annual raises, the cumulative earnings gap exceeds $40,000. Early wins compound for years.
Run Your Own Raise Scenario
Enter your salary and target raise to see what different outcomes mean for your annual and long-term earnings.